Wearing apparel



April 27, 1954 H. J. DUBNER 2,676,321

WEARING APPAREL Filed Aug. 17, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. fife, JIW flaw 5e (1...; 2n. awa

firme/va April 27, 1954 H. J. DUBNER 2,676,321

WEARING APPAREL Filed Aug. 17, 1951 -2 Sheets-"Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HA2 ./4/ 01 54 63? BY ATfOf/Vf/ Patented Apr. 27 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT 7 OFFICE 2,676,321 WEARING APPAREL Harry Jay Dubner, N ew York, N. Y. Application August 17, 1951, Serial No. 242,254

9 Claims.

This invention relates to womens wearing apparel and more particularly is directed to an improved shoulder-strapless form conserver for the l ust region to replace the conventional brassiere or the like.

Among the objects of the invention is to gen-- erally improve womens'wearing apparel of the character described which shall comprise few and simpl parts that are readily assembled to provide shoulder-strapless form conservers for the bust region of greater desirability than the conventional brassiere, which shall require a minimum of material; which shall be relatively cheap to manufacture; which shall be effective to conserve the bust form and control the appearance thereof most advantageously in a closed free natural contour; which shall provide a cover to obscure the visibility of naked or exposed portions of the breast under control in conserving the form thereof, which shall provide additional and effective control for a wide range of shaped breasts to reduce undesirable flattening appearance yet avoiding discomfort, which shall aliord comfortable wear and be easily adaptable for fashion beneath shoulder-strapless wearing apparel in both daring and conservative styles, for example, off-the-shoulder and so-called plunging neck line dress, costumes, slips,'halters, and play, athletic and bathing suits, and which shall be practical and efficient to an exceptionally high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

This application is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 229,219 filed May 31', 1951 for Wearing Apparel.

" In the accompanying drawing in which embodiments of the invention are shown,

Fig. l is a perspective view of improved women's wearing apparel constructed as a shoulder-strapless bust region form conserver embodying the invention shown as worn effectively flexed to give a covered free natural. contour of the individual breasts, the wearer's body portion being indicated in dot and dash line.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved bust reglon form conserver shown in Fig. 1,- removed iron: the wearer and spread fiat showing the 2 breast form conserver construction thereof onflexed and ineffective.

Fig. 3' is an enlarged fragmentary rear view portion of of the bust region form conserves shown in Fig. 2 showing details of the improved construction.

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 4- and 5 5, respectively, in Fig. 3 showing construction assembly details transverse and lengthwise the flexible member branch portions, respectively.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional "view taken on line 6@ in Fig. 1 showing construction details of a fashioned upper closure portion of the improved breast form conserver.

Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 of a inodi lied construction embodying the invention showing' a construction assembly with the upper closure portions arranged to partially overlie instead of underlie the uplift bands.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of a further modified construction embodying the invention showing top cross-reinforcement interconnection for the branch portions of the flexing member before being flexed, and

' Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged. lan View or another modified construction embodying the in vention showing multiple branch portions for the flexing members assembled as spread reinforcement for conservers such as shown in Figs. 1, 2', 7 and 8.

Referring in detail to the drawing Figs. 1 to 6 show a womens wearingapparel constructed to embody the invention in which 2!! denotes a shoulder-strap1ess form of a conserver for the bust region of the wearer serving to replace the conventional brassire or for like service.

In my said copending application ser. No. 229,219 the improved construction of conservers shown and described therein permits the breast regions about th nipple and areola to be left practically 'fully exposed. such ccnservers for generally recognizedmodesty observances are required to be Worn under garments that obscure the visibility of such naked or bare exposed ortionsof the breasts. It; is among the features of the present invention to provide a breast covered closure construction which can be worn generally under garments that are somewhat translucent without the slightest embarrassment in that the visibility of the naked or otherwise exposed portions of the breast are made obscure and which at the same time affords comfortable wear with a more effective control of a wide range of shaped breasts to reduce to a minimum undesirable flat tened appearance and also avoiding discomfort due to crowding of the controlled breast portions in the manner hereinafter described and as illustrated in the drawings.

As seen from Fig. 2 which is a plan view of the improved bust form conserver 2E5 removed from the wearers body and spread flat, said conserver 25 may comprise suitably spaced apart duplicate breast form control conserving flexing members 2| and 22, each of inverted ti-shape, and as here shown said members 2| and 22 have spread branch portions 2|a, 21b, and 22a and 221), respectively, shown in unfiexed ineffective relation.

The spaced apart positioning relation of control conserver members 2| and 22 may be re- 1 tained by a relatively nonstretchable narrow diaphragm ribbon or belt 23 of a suitable textile or other material, the opposite free ends of which terminate in releasable fastener means of any conventional construction such as flat hook fittings 23b and adjustable eyelet pieces 230 which cooperate in the well understood manner for securing the conserver 28 in effective position on the wearers body as seen in Fig. 1.

Said inverted V-shaped members 2| and 22 may have uplift bands 2|c and 220, respectively, extending between said branch portions 2|a, 21b, and 22a and 221) respectively, normally spaced just above the level, that is, over belt 23,

and may, as is clear from Fig. 1, extend up to approximately the level of the nipple and areola region of the wearer. Since the construction of conserver 22 so far described would leave a relatively large open or uncovered space-area between the uplift bands 2|c and 220 and apices 25d and 22d, respectively, formed by spread branch portions 2|a, 2|b, and 22a, 22b, respecspectively, there is provided cover closure panels 22 and 25 for flexing members 2| and 22, re-

spectively, said closure panels 24'. and 25 being secured to extend between said branch portions 2m, 2|b, and 22a, 2273, respectively.

Said cover closure panels 24 and 25 may be made of suitable material such as gauze, net, lace, satin or other textiles fashioned and shaped to conform to the contour of the breast surface over which it is to extend, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 may be attached to stretch between branch portions 2|a, 2|b and 22a, 222), respectively, at upper levels a short distance down from apices 2 d and 22d, respectively. The lower level of said cover closure panels 24 and 25 may extend to stretch between branch portions 2|a, 2|b and 22a, 2212 a distance to reach below the upper level of uplift bands 2 lo and 220,

respectively as is clear from Figs. 1 to 3.

Ihus by fashioning and shaping said cover closure panels 24 and 25, as for example, by providing one or more biasing seams 24a. and 2511,

or the like, and attaching said panels 24 and 25 at spaced points or corners, as shown at 241) and 251) respectively, in Fig. 3. Said cover panels 24 and 25 when so incorporated in the conserver 2t permit self adjustment to be made for comfortable fitting requirements and form control of the breast regions effective in relation to uplift bands 2 lo and 220 when conserver 2c is worn as shown in Fig. 1.

Midaway along adjacent branch portions 2|b and 22a and between the uplift bands 2|c, 22c and apices 2|d and 22d, respectively, a suitable trans-sternum tension tape 26 may extend above and spaced from belt 23 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Said tape 26 serves to bow members 2| and 22 when force is applied to flex branch por- 4 tions 2m, 2 lb, and 22a, 22b in the manner hereinafter described.

To control the form bowing of said members 2| and 22, namely, when said branch portions 2m, 2H) and 22a, 22b are flexed in fitting conserver 20 on the wearers body, that is, for making the change from the ineffective uniiexed relation of conserver 22 shown in Fig. 2 to that of effective flexed form conserving and controlling position thereof shown in Fig. 1, an oppositely extending pair of secondary narrow ribbon tape or belts 21 and 28 may be provided.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said secondary belts 2i and 28 may be incorporated in the structure of conserver 22 by securing ends Na and 28a, respectively, of said belts 2'1 and 26 to stretch from flat hook 231) and eyelet piece 230, respectively, with ends 2'31) and 2812, respectively, opposite said ends Zia and 2311, respectively, anchored in symmetrical arrangement to distantly spaced apart mid portions of member branch portions 25a and 221), respectively. Anchorage end 211) may be located between ends 2 if of said band 2 lo and apex 2 Id, and anchorage end 281) between end 223 of band 220 and apex 22d. Anchorage ends 21?) and 28b connecting with mid portions of branch portions 2|a and 221), respectively, may be positioned closer to apices 21d and 22d, respectively, than to band ends 2|f and 22f, respectively, thereby cooperating to exert bowing iorce for effectively flexing said branch portions of said members 2| and 22 when conserver 23 is worn as is clear from Fig. l.

Belt 23 may be made of a single ply material or from a double ply folded over and secured in any suitable manner, as for example, by an adhesive or, rows of stitches 23a to firmly anchor merging ends of the branch portions of members 2| and 22 as at 2ig, 2|h and 22g and 22h, respectively.

Member branch portions 2|a, 21b, 22a, and 222) may each be constructed in any suitable manner to permit repeated bowing for flexing to and from the ineffective relation shown in Fig. 2 to the effective position as shown in Fig. 1. As here shown in Figs. 1 and 5, said branch portions each may comprise an elongated relatively narrow normally straight flat resilient material, such as a bone or steel stay 22 enveloped in closely fitted casings 29a. Said casings may be incorporated in the construction of conserver 253 in any suitable manner as by rows of stitches 2|;i and 22a to form cross stitches at apices Zld and 22d, respectively, and at 2|g, 2m and 22g, 22h, respectively, with belt 23 as is clear from Figs. 1, 2, a, and 5.

From the above description and drawing the utility of the invention is readily understood. Bust form conserver 29 after being manufactured from parts thereof in complete assembly to embody the invention as described above and shown in Figs. 1 to 6 not only including what may be referred to as being skeletonized, that is, 2. lattice construction to nest the breasts of the wearer, but also is made to incorporate cover closure panels 2 and 25 to extend in an overlying relation over the space-area between uplift bands 2|c and 220 and apices 2|d and 22d, respectively, which otherwise would leave the wearers breasts at the nipple and areola region exposed and uncovered.

Said slreletonized structure of conserver 29 may be fitted to the wearers body as shown in Fig. 1 by simply placing flexing members 2| and 22 in front of the bust region with the upper rounded breast bulges thereof aligned under cover closure panels as and 25 and the under breast aligned with uplift bands 2lc and 220. Now by drawing the belt 23 around the wearers body and firmly securing hook 23?) adjusted for comfort wear with eyelet piece 230 on the rear side of the body, said members 2! and 22 will be flexed into effective bowing positions as shown in Fig. l with the breast nested in a self adjusting controlled form between bands Zlc, 22c and cover panels 24 and 25, respectively.

It will thus be seen that said conserver 2th on being secured eifectively as described above will then position diaphragm belt 23 to retain branch portion ends Zig and 2th of member 2!, and branch portion ends 229 and 22h of i ember 22 in a relatively fixed position with actuating flexing forces applied to branch members Zia and 222;, through secondary belts 2i and 2e, respectively, whereby said branch portions 2 la and 2 lb hinged at apex 2ld, and said branch. portions 22a and 22b hinged at apex 22d causing members 2i and 22 tobe bowed against said flexing force to conform to a desirable encircling contour or shape. Bands 2lc and 220 will then each be in an uplifting position for supporting the breasts, being particularly eliective to counteract so-oalled frequently existent pendant or sagging breasts.

This improved desirable breast uplifting effect with conserver will cause the upper portions of the breast to fill out spaces underlying cover closure panels 24 and 25. Since the latter are tacked by stitches or otherwise secured in position at corners or p hits 2% and iiib, as shown in Fig. 3, said cover panels 2d and are permitted to cooperate with the uplift bands Mo and 220, respectively, to self-adjust conserver 26 to eliminate unsightly side spread and uncomfortable crowding of flattening of the upper region of the confined breasts. Such self-adjust ment appears to be brought about in providing limited free movement along the opposite side edges 24c and 250 of cover panels 2d and 25,

respectively, and in also permitting relative movement of displacement of panels 24 and with respect to panels Zlc and 22c, respectively, whereby lower portions 24d and 25d of said panels 24 and 25, respectively shift with relation to the overlying portions of uplift bands 2 lo and 220, respectively, in making said self adjustment as is clear from Figs. 1 and 2.

A suitable tension tape 2% may stretch between and be secured to member branch portions 2i?) and 22a, in approximate alignment with the upper edges of bands 2H0 and 220 to serve in providing flexibility in said bowing action of members 2i and 22-, as is clear from Figs. 1 to 3.

Conservers 29 constructed as above described to embody the invention and as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 are especially desirable for use during the summer season and in the tropics because of their inherent light weight and for giving a positive sense of proper placement of the breasts of the wearer with a minimum discomfort and actual satisfaction as to producing rounded supple breast contours of desirable appearance.

In Fig. 7 a modified form of conserver 38 embodying the invention is shown which differs from conservers it above described and shown in Figs. 1 to 6. In conserver 3c the lower portions Md and d of panels at and 35, respec tively, corresponding to lower portion 2%? and 25d of panels 24 and 25, respectively, of conserver 20 above described, are positioned to over- 6 lie uplift bands 31c and 320, of underlie same.

In all other respects conserver 30 may be substantially like conservers 2c in having flexing members 2! and 22, spread branch portions 2 la, 2H), and 22a, 221), respectively, formed with apices 2 id and 22d, respectively, diaphragam belt 23, hook fittings 23b, eyelet piece 23c, tension tape 26, and secondary belts 2'? and 23.

Another modification embodying the invention is shown in Fig. 8 and denoted as conserver 49. The latter may be constructed like 26 or 36, described above and shown in Figs. 2 and 7, except whereas. the latter each have apieces 21d and 22d of flexing members 2i and 22, respectively, said conserver ell has instead short cross, interconnecting bone or steel stays 45d and 42d covered as at tie and 622 in the same manner as described above for spread branch portions Zia, 22a, and 25b, 22b of conserver 20. By providing cross stays lid and did instead of said apices Eld and 22d. more uniform flexing movement is provided as well as a more comfortable wearing fit.

In all other respects conserver lll may be made like conserver 293 or ilil in having flexing meinbers 2i and 22, branch portions 21c, ill), and 22a and 22b, respectively, panels. 2:; and 25, uplift bands 2ic and 220, diaphragm belt 23, tape 23, secondary belts 21 and 23, and suitable hook and eyelet fastener piece for the latter, not shown in Fig. 8.

Still another embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 9 is denoted as conserver lit which differs from conserver all, it or [it above described and shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, by providing roultiple pairs of spread branch portions em, Siam; bib, Elbb; 52a, 521m; and 52b, 5212b for flexing members 5i and 52, respectively, instead of said single pairs of branch portions Zia, 22a, and 2th, 222) of flexing members 2i and 22 heretofore described.

It is sometimes desirable to provide a bowing construction for the flexing members of greater lateral spread than can be served by single pairs of member branch portions such as shown and described for conservers 2d, 38 or id. in such circumstances and particularly where the wear" ers breast transverse spread is in the large size range conserver till with the multiple pairs of branch portions as above described and shown in Fig. 9 may be found to give more satisfaction than the others made with single pairs.

Conserver dll may otherwise be constructed substantially like conservers 2t, 39 or all with a diaphragm belt 23, uplift bands 2 lo and 2120, cover closure panels 24 and 25, respectively, tension tape 26, secondary belts 2i and 28, and suitable hook and eyelet fasteners for the latter not shown in Fig. 9.

Conserver so, as and be may each be effectively worn in the same manner as ccnserver 2%, described above and shown in Fig. 1.

It has been found desirable in order to achieve the various objects of the invention when utilizing the multiple pairs of spread branch portions in conserver 5G to permit branch portions dice and 52% to float with respect to secondary belts 2? and 28, respectively, and to permit branch portions liibb and 52m to float with respect to tension tape 25 thereby providing a self-adjusting lit to comfortably control the larger size breasts.

In practicing the invention it may be desirable to interchange and combine various features of respectively, instead the different forms of conservers 20, 30, 49 and I 513. For example, the overlying of the lower portions Md and 35d of panels 34 and 35, respectively, may be utilized in conservers 40 and 59 shown in Figs. 8 and 9, respectively, or the interconnecting bone or steel stay Md and 42d of conserver til may be utilized in the construction of conserver 59 shown in Fig. 9.

It will thus be seen that there is provided improved bust form conservers of the character described whereby the several objects of thi invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A womans strapless undergarment comprisiing a skeletonized bust conserver having inverted V-shaped flexing members spaced apart along a body encircling diaphragm belt sized and shaped to define breast pocket areas, an uplift band secured to extend across each of said pocket area to support an underportion of the wearers breast, and a cover panel secured to extend across an upper portion of each of said pocket areas overlapping said band to cover an upper portion of the wearers breast, said cover panels being attached to said flexing members at spaced apart points to provide relative movement of said panel with respect to the band in self-adjusting thereof to fit the breast on flexing of said members when worn.

2. The womans strapless undergarment defined in claim 1 including a supplemental inverted l -shaped flexing member symmetrically bordering each of said first mentioned flexing members forming said skeletonized conserver for increasing the effectiveness and range of spread of self-adjustment fit to the breasts of the wearer, each of said supplemental flexing members being attached to the garment at one end at the apex region of said first mentioned flexing members and at another end to the diaphragm belt and being otherwise free for self-adjusting fit to the wearers breasts.

3. A womens strapless undergarment comprising a diaphragm belt for encircling the body of the wearer just below the breasts, a pair of spaced apart flexing members breast pocket areas upstanding from said diaphragm belt, each of said flexing members being formed with two resilient stay reinforced branches connected at one end to said belt in spaced apart relation and interconnected at the other end thereof, an uplift band secured to said branches extending across each of said pocket areas spaced from said belt to support an underportion of the wearers breast, a trans-sternum tensioning tape spaced from adjacent branches of said flexing members with sized and shaped to define r the belt connecting 6 each other, tensioning elements having one end thereof secured to each of the opposite branches at a point between the ends thereof, the other end of each of said tensioning elements being secured to said belt remote from said members for applying a bowing force to the members through said trans-sternum tape when the garment is worn, and a cover panel secured to extend across an upper portion of each of said pocket areas overlapping said band to cover an upper portion of the wearers breast, said cover panels being atattached to said branches at spaced apart points to provide relative movement of said panel with respect to the uplift bands in self-adjustment to fit the breasts on bowing of said members when worn.

l. The womens strapless undergarment defined in claim 3 in which said pair of flexing members are of inverted V-shape.

5. The womens strapless undergarment defined in claim 3 in which each of said cover panels overlaps an inner surface of each or said uplift bands facing the wearer breast.

6. The womens strapless undergarment defined in claim 3 in which each of cover panels overlaps an outer surface of each of said uplift bands.

7. The womens strapless undergarment defined in claim 3 in which said interconnection of the branches at their ends opposite the belt includes a flexible member extending substantially parallel to the belt to increase the spread of the members.

S. The Womens strapless undergarment defined in claim 3 in which said pair of flexing members are of inverted V-sha-pe, and a supplemental in verted V-shaped flexing member formed with a spread end and apex opposite said end symmetrically dispcsed with respect to each of said first mentioned inverted V-shaped flexing members for increasing the effectiveness and spread of the breast pocket areas on flexing of said members when worn.

9. The womens strapless undergarment defined in claim 3 in which each of said resilient stay reinforced branches of said flexing members is doubled, said uplift band and cover panel in each of the members being attached to innermost adiacent branches of the pair, each of said tensioning elements being attached to one of said innermost branches, the outermost branches being left relatively free with respect to said tensioning elements for said self-adjustment fit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

